Children of the Red Light

Abstract

The city of Kolkata is full of astonishing history and various ways of life. As the capital of India’s West Bengal state, it attracts the public with its grand colonial architecture, art galleries, and cultural festivals. For those residing in this city, a different story can be seen. Despite all of Kolkata’s exuberance, many of the residents of this city live in some of the worst conditions, drastically distanced from the cultural ambiance. In specific, the Sonagachi neighborhood is not a place one would travel to witness the cultural vitality of Kolkata. This red- light neighborhood is home to roughly 16,000 sex workers and their families (Chakraborty 2020). The children of this neighborhood have grown up surrounded by the influence of sex workers and child laborers. Being raised in these conditions has impacted the expectations placed on them around schooling and has highlighted two different types of expectations: one for boys, and one for girls. The difference in expectations is brought on by the culture of the city, the predominance of sex-work, and the influence of the parents.

University Libraries Undergraduate Research Award